This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/14/british-woman-in-peru-prison-for-drug-smuggling-to-be-released
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| British woman jailed in Peru for drug smuggling to be released | British woman jailed in Peru for drug smuggling to be released |
| (4 months later) | |
| A British woman imprisoned in Peru for cocaine smuggling is to be released after authorities gave their strongest indication yet that they had agreed to expel her from the country, according to reports. | A British woman imprisoned in Peru for cocaine smuggling is to be released after authorities gave their strongest indication yet that they had agreed to expel her from the country, according to reports. |
| Melissa Reid, 22, was imprisoned for smuggling in 2013 and had appealed to be expelled and serve the remainder of her sentence closer to home. | Melissa Reid, 22, was imprisoned for smuggling in 2013 and had appealed to be expelled and serve the remainder of her sentence closer to home. |
| Reid, from Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire, and Michaella McCollum, from Dungannon, County Tyrone, were both sentenced to six years and eight months in prison in 2013 after admitting trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5m from Peru to Spain. | Reid, from Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire, and Michaella McCollum, from Dungannon, County Tyrone, were both sentenced to six years and eight months in prison in 2013 after admitting trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5m from Peru to Spain. |
| McCollum, 23, was freed in March under early prison release legislation introduced in Peru last year, after serving two years and three months. According to the BBC, Peruvian authorities said they had agreed to release Reid following a court hearing on Friday. | McCollum, 23, was freed in March under early prison release legislation introduced in Peru last year, after serving two years and three months. According to the BBC, Peruvian authorities said they had agreed to release Reid following a court hearing on Friday. |
| A magistrate ruled that she had been remorseful and shown her “intention to be reinserted back in society” at an earlier hearing. The Daily Mail reported that the court would inform the British embassy of the decision so that arrangements could be made for Reid to be returned to the UK. | A magistrate ruled that she had been remorseful and shown her “intention to be reinserted back in society” at an earlier hearing. The Daily Mail reported that the court would inform the British embassy of the decision so that arrangements could be made for Reid to be returned to the UK. |
| On Saturday, the Foreign Office said it was providing assistance to Reid and remained in contact with her family and local authorities. However, it is anticipated that it will take some time before the women are able to return home. | On Saturday, the Foreign Office said it was providing assistance to Reid and remained in contact with her family and local authorities. However, it is anticipated that it will take some time before the women are able to return home. |
| McCollum and Reid were caught with the class A drug at Lima airport on 6 August 2013 as they attempted to fly to Spain. The pair had claimed that they were forced into carrying the haul, but pleaded guilty to charges later that year. | McCollum and Reid were caught with the class A drug at Lima airport on 6 August 2013 as they attempted to fly to Spain. The pair had claimed that they were forced into carrying the haul, but pleaded guilty to charges later that year. |
| They had tried to board a flight with 24lb (11kg) of cocaine in food packets hidden inside their luggage. | They had tried to board a flight with 24lb (11kg) of cocaine in food packets hidden inside their luggage. |
| McCollum and Reid faced the prospect of maximum 15-year prison terms, but struck a behind-closed-doors plea bargain to secure a shorter sentence. They were previously held at Virgen de Fátima prison in Lima before being moved to Ancon 2 prison, where McCollum was reportedly crammed into a cell alongside 30 other prisoners, with poor sanitation and toilet facilities. | McCollum and Reid faced the prospect of maximum 15-year prison terms, but struck a behind-closed-doors plea bargain to secure a shorter sentence. They were previously held at Virgen de Fátima prison in Lima before being moved to Ancon 2 prison, where McCollum was reportedly crammed into a cell alongside 30 other prisoners, with poor sanitation and toilet facilities. |
| The Scottish Prison Service agreed in principle to a transfer in 2014 and Reid has been awaiting approval from Peruvian authorities, which need to consent to her serving the remainder of her sentence under Scots law. | The Scottish Prison Service agreed in principle to a transfer in 2014 and Reid has been awaiting approval from Peruvian authorities, which need to consent to her serving the remainder of her sentence under Scots law. |
| Reid’s father, Billy, previously said the impact of her crime on his family had been traumatic and warned in a video of the consequences of drug offences abroad. | Reid’s father, Billy, previously said the impact of her crime on his family had been traumatic and warned in a video of the consequences of drug offences abroad. |
| “It’s horrendous to see your daughter in handcuffs and the living conditions that she has to put up with. Melissa has spent her own 20th and 21st birthdays in prison in Peru,” he said. | “It’s horrendous to see your daughter in handcuffs and the living conditions that she has to put up with. Melissa has spent her own 20th and 21st birthdays in prison in Peru,” he said. |
| “She missed the significant event of her only brother’s wedding. Events such as Christmas are non-existent for us. There’ll be no celebrations in our house, there’ll be no Christmas tree until we get her back home.” | “She missed the significant event of her only brother’s wedding. Events such as Christmas are non-existent for us. There’ll be no celebrations in our house, there’ll be no Christmas tree until we get her back home.” |